Formulation development and optimization of alpha ketoglutarate nanoparticles for cyanide poisoning

The purpose of this research work was to formulate and evaluate alpha ketoglutarate nanoparticles as dry powder inhaler for treatment of cyanide poisoning. Non-polymeric particles were prepared by nano-precipitation technique using various stabilizers. Selection of co-solvent and stabilizer was a key to produce stabilized particles. A combination of lutrol F68 and PVA as a crystal growth inhibitor seems to be best in achieving minimum particle size of 110.2 nm. On the basis of preliminary trials a Box-Behnken statistical design was employed to study the effect of independent variables, drug concentration (X₁), stirring speed (X₂), stirring time (X₃), PVA concentration (X₄), poloxomer concentration (X₅) and volume of co-solvent (X₆) on average particle size. Particle size varied from 110 to 875 nm depending upon the significant terms. Optimized formulation was predicted at drug concentration (50 μg/ml), stirring speed (640 rpm), stirring time (1 min), PVA concentration (1%), poloxomer concentration (1.69%) and volume of co-solvent (30 ml) with 104.6% experimental validity. The nanosized particles were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The results of particle characterization indicate that there was no physical disparity when compared with the commercial α-KG sample.     

Vibration characteristics of FGM circular cylindrical shells using wave propagation approach

In this paper, the wave propagation approach is employed to study the vibration characteristics of functionally graded material circular cylindrical shells. Axial modal dependence is approximated by exponential functions. This is a very simple and easily applicable technique. This avoids a large amount of algebraic manipulations. A theoretical analysis of shell natural frequencies are conducted for various boundary conditions. Validity and accuracy of the present method are confirmed by comparing the present results with those available in the literature. A good agreement is observed between the two sets of the results.     

Effect of separate pod and root zone temperatures on yield and seed composition of three Spanish cultivars of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L)

The effect of separate pod and root temperature regimes (all four combinations of 28/22 and 40/34 °C day/night temperature), imposed from the time of peg penetration until harvest, on yield and seed composition of three Spanish genotypes of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) was investigated. A decrease in pod temperature from 40/34 to 28/22 °C increased yield and oil, starch and protein mass per plant irrespective of root temperature. Additionally, a reduction in pod temperature decreased protein concentration and increased the sum of oil and starch concentration at a root temperature of 28/22 °C, whereas at a root temperature of 40/34 °C a decrease in pod temperature increased protein concentration. Root temperature reduction diminished oil concentration of genotypes AH 6179 and TMV 2 at a pod temperature of 40/34 °C. A decline in pod temperature affected fatty acid composition through a decrease in palmitic acid irrespective of root temperature and an increase in linoleic acid at a root temperature of 28/22 °C. A root temperature effect on fatty acid composition was not detected. It is concluded that field management practices and choice of genotype can influence groundnut yield and seed composition through effects on pod and root temperature. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro synergism of antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of Phoenix dactylifera fruit

The availability of total phenolics of date flesh (Pheonix dactylifera) in aqueous and acidified methanol and in vitro synergism of their antimutagenic and antioxidant activities were investigated. The antimutagenic activities of date flesh extracts tested against Salmonella strains TA-98 and TA-100 using Ames bacterial testing were in the range of 36.47 to 79.74% against the standard mutagens potassium dichromate and sodium azide. The antioxidant activities assessed as maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) for DPPH radicals and linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition were 812.90 to 2,076.10 μg/mL and 54.43 to 80.89%, respectively. The total phenolic contents of date flesh extracts (35.76 to 114.09mg/g of gallic acid equivalents) were found to be correlated with the biological activities. Use of 0.5 N acidified methanol was efficient for extraction of phenolic compounds with retained antioxidant and antimutagen activities. Dates are a good candidate as a source for development of chemotherapeutic drugs, nutracueticals, and functional food ingredients.     

Novel multiplex PCR-RFLP assay discriminates bovine,porcine and fish gelatin substitution in Asian pharmaceuticals capsule shells

Gelatin is widely used in pharmaceuticals as a protective coating, such as soft and hard capsule shells. However, the animal source of gelatin is a sensitive issue because certain gelatins such as porcine and bovine gelatins are not welcome in Halal, Kosher and Hindus’ consumer goods. Recently, we have documented DNA barcoding and multiplex PCR platforms for discriminating porcine, bovine and fish gelatins in various fish and confectionary products; but those assays were not self-authenticating and also not tested in highly refined pharmaceutical products. To address this knowledge gap, here we report a self-authenticating multiplex PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to identify animal sources of various gelatin in pharmaceutical capsules. Three different restriction enzymes, BsaAI, Hpy188I and BcoDI were used to yield distinctive RFLP patterns for gelatin-based bovine (26, 94 bp), fish (97, 198 bp) and porcine (17, 70 bp) DNA in control experiments. The specificity was cross-tested against 16 non-target species and the optimised assay was used to screen gelatin sources in 30 halal-branded pharmaceuticals capsule shells. Bovine and porcine DNA was found in 27 and 3 of the 30 different capsules products. The assay was suitable for detecting 0.1 to 0.01 ng total DNA extracted from pure and mixed gelatins. The study might be useful to authenticate and monitor halal, kosher, vegetarian and Hindu compliant pharmaceuticals, foods and cosmetics.     

Palyno‐morphological investigations of subtropical endangered flora of Capparidaceae through light and scanning electron microscopy

The research was performed to investigate pollen morphology of endangered species of Capparidaceae in subtropical regions of Pakistan. The distinguishing characters were investigated by using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Palynological study is comprised of pollen shape, pollen type, exine sculpturing, polar and equatorial diameter, length and width of colpi, mesocolpium, and exine thickness. In polar view, Cleome viscosa exhibited the highest pollen size 26.4 (32.7–24.5 μm) ±0.776 whereas Capparis spinosa appeared to be the lowest 12.6 (14.5?10.7 μm) ±0.400. In equatorial view, Cleome viscosa had the largest pollen size 17.1 (20.0–15.0 μm) ±0.606 and Capparis spinosa had the smallest pollen size 9.7 (12.50–8.00 μm) ±0.394. The maximum fertility percentage has been observed in Capparis spinosa, that is, 98.96% and minimum in Cleome viscosa, that is, 82.93%. Diagnostic key has been constructed to state the essential diagnostic features by means of which the taxa can be identified. Remarkable variations have been observed in pollen size, shape, and exine sculpturing. All the selected species were tricolporate. Prolate to subprolate pollen were observed. There is a great variation existed in exine sculpturing such as in Capparis decidua and C. sp. nova sculpturing is reticulate, in Capparis himalayensis sculpturing is Scabrate granulate, in Capparis spinosa sculpturing is Psilate, in Cleome viscosa sculpturing is regulate‐reticulate, in Dipterygium glaucum sculpturing is regulate and in Gynandropsis gynandra sculpturing is striate‐regulate. On the basis of overall characteristics of pollen it seems that palynology of this family is helpful at the generic and specific level.     

Quality assurance and authentication of herbal drug (Argyrolobium roseum and Viola stocksii) through comparative light and scanning electron microscopy

The quality assurance and authentication of crude herbal drugs play important role in the effective therapeutic effect of herbal drug and their products. There are many reported problems in quality assurance of herbal crude drugs concerning to their correct identification. The present study was designed with the aim to document the authentication and quality assurance of the herbal crude drugs (Argyrolobium roseum and Viola stocksii) thorough light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed foliar anatomical studies showed polygonal epidermal cells having anticlinal walls in Argyrolobium roseum while rounded epidermal cells were observed in Viola stocksii. The anomocytic stomata type was observed in Argrolobium roseum while actinocytic was noticed in Viola stocksii. The pollen of studied species appeared as tricolporate showing reticulate exine sculpturing in Argrolobium roseum while fine perforations were recorded in Viola stocksii. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity showed high flavonoid and phenol content in Argyrolobium roseum as compared with Viola stocksii. It was observed that Argyrolobium roseum was discriminated from the Viola stocksii based on the leaf and pollen micromorphological traits by using LM and SEM techniques. It was concluded that LM and SEM techniques were found useful for the quality assurance of botanicals and their authentication.     

Comparative light and scanning electron microscopy in authentication of adulterated traded medicinal plants

The medicinal plants are utilized globally considering the cheap and chemical free source, but their correct identification and authentication is prerequisite for safety and efficacy of plant‐based medicines. The present study encompassed traded medicinal plants (16) with high therapeutic value from diverse families like Brassicaceae, Berberidaceae, Malvaceae, Salicaceae, Myrtaceae, Papilionaceae, Ascelpiadaceae, Colchicaceae, Violaceae, and Vitaceae for detailed microscopic study of characters that is, morphology, pollen shape and sizes, P/E ratio, pore length and width, spine length, colpi dimensions, and exine sculpture pattern. The plants showed noteworthy differences in microscopy of Wattakaka volubilis having pollinia, translator and corpusculum like structures while pores were visible in Colchicum luteum, Alcea rosea, and Hibiscus syriacus. The spines were observed in Centipeda minima, A. rosea, and H. syriacus being dimorphic spines in A. rosea and monomorphic in H. syriacus. The exine sculpturing pattern was reticulate in mostly studied plants however distinctive exine pattern was noted in Berberis aristata and Berberis lyceum. The highest polar diameter, equatorial diameter and exine thickness among studied plants were observed in H. syriacus (161 μm), C. luteum (50 μm) and Vitis jacquemontii (1.10), respectively. Thus, microscopy of medicinal plants in addition to other taxonomic evidence offers a supportive skill in authentication, consequently utilization by local consumers and pharmaceutical industries.     

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in affluent and poor urban communities of Pakistan

Using previously applied methods a survey of joint symptoms was undertaken among 4232 adults, evenly distributed between affluent and poor areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Only six cases of definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1958 ARA criteria) were identified in the 245 persons who complained of joint problems of at least 4 weeks duration. The prevalence was 0.9 [confidence interval (CI) 0.21-3.61] and 1.98 (CI 0.55-5.1) per thousand in the poor and affluent districts, respectively. These were substantially less than prevalence rates reported in the West but were similar to figures derived from other developing countries. There was no obvious impact of current living standards on the findings. The relative paucity of older female subjects in both the affluent and poor communities may account at least in part for the low rates observed. The infrequency of rheumatoid nodules in Southern Asians with RA illustrates the difficulty of applying existing diagnostic criteria to this community.